Category: Vietnam

Cooks

I read several letters on this site concerning the bad food some Marines ate a different mess halls. My first thought was why did they not use the condiments (salt & pepper) that was available on the table. Then another reason hit me, maybe they just did not like that particular dish that was on the chow line that day.   I was a cook in the Marine Corps for almost four years. Never have figured out why I was chosen for this MOS but being a Marine I did it to the best of my ability.    I used to have some regrets for being a cook instead of a grunt or any other MOS but I finally came to the realization many years later that that job had to be done by someone.    Not to toot my horn but Myself and Lcpl. Sam Jackson received a Meritorious Mast (Attached) from Lt. Col. Joseph E. Muir (K.I.A. on 9/11/65) for setting up and maintaining a field mess in Chu Lai South Vietnam for Lima Co. on August 12, 1965. It was not until several years later that I learned of Col Muir’s death which makes the  Meritorious Mast much more meaningful to me.   I was also awarded a Letter of Appreciation (attached) for a job well done on March 27, 1967 at TBS at Quantico, VA   I am now done venting concerning the Marine Corps Cooks!   Remember all Marines no matter what the MOS are First & Foremost A Rifleman.    Carl (Paw) Anderson  Corporal U.S.M.C.

Marsline phone calls back to the World

Hay SGT.

I havent heard anything about Mars Line Calls back home!!

The only one I was able to do was late 1969. We had to get on a list that took 3 months and they gave you a time of the day and you gave them the phone you would use. You had three rings and you had better be there to answer the ring. Well I was useing the line shach phone at VMGR 152 flight line in Denang and the time was ofcourse 0330. I was sitting there and it rang. The process was a phone from me to a radio opperator to the States, the opperator in the States,  called home on th phone so it was , I would say "I Love You –Over" and then my wife could talk then "over". Very old school compaired to today. Well that was the start — then the sirens started as the 122 mm rockets started hitting as I said "over" the only thing I heard from the wife (with the entire family listeing) was "what the hell is that sound !! "over" Well a, Well a — We are getting hit sweetheart "over", WHAT!  "over" and more boom, boom, boom right along the taxie way out front. I looked up and all I saw was the screen door swinging —- everyone was in the bunker. I had waited 3 months and no way in hell I was leaving that phone !! All that we talked about, was her telling me to get down and I wanted to talk. Go figure. Well I only had 10 min. for the call and by that time we had an all clear and everyone had returned from the bunker. Well the next morning the SGTMJ. got wind of what I did, He asked if I enjoyed my call. I said yes thanks! He said that my extra duty was scrubing off the stains on the E-Club stone walls. That took a week of extra duty. I got my call !!! read more

IOD Units

This is a picture I took in Vietnam and the following is a dicussion with a Marine I crossed paths with.

Sgt. Grit:   If you recognize this photo I would love to hear from you.   As we used to say, "Tis a thing or raw and savage beauty".  At our peak (mid-1970) we had five operational and deployed IOD units.  I remember LZ Ross, LZ Baldy, Hill 65 and Recon Outpost Hill 250 (my location).  For the life of me I can't remember the 5th placement.  From January through October 1970 my team was credited with 108 confirmed (Recon patrols w/pictures and recovered documents) KIAs.  Nothing moved in the Arizona between Hill 65 and Hill 250 that we couldn't observe and hit.   Interestingly, I've never heard any chatter from the 25 or 30 of us who were fortunate enough to be a part of the first ever, ground combat deployment of laser technology.  To say it was a "game changer" is a gross understatement.   Former Sgt. L. M. Hinton S-2, IOD Hq. Btry., 11th Marines, RVN NCOIC, IOD Team, Hill 250, RVN

RE: newsletter of 2, Aug, 2012

Just finished the 2, Aug, 2012 newsletter, great as always.

Thought I would address two posts, 1 – from G. Cagle Sgt.79-83, and 2 – from Bruce Bender 1962 – 1967 Cpl.

Sgt. Cagle mentions combination locks with the same exact numbers. Never saw this, but can relate to the miracle of the comb lock, in the dark. Personally did this and witnessed this. After closing down the EM, and later, NCO clubs you get back to the barracks long after the lights have been turned out. So how are you able to unlock your lock in the dark?? A lighter helps, but when someone doesn't have one, and they are staggering 'El Blottoed', working the combination wheel with a cigarette held in your lips could be accomplished in about the same amount of time as someone who is as  'Preacher' as can be sober. Truely a miracle!! read more

To Charles (Chuck) Brewer, 1967-1973,

To Sgt. Charles (Chuck) Brewer, 1967-1973 regarding your story of meeting people from 12,000 miles away.

I was originally sent to Okiniwa ('71) for dispatch either north or south.  The dispatching sergeant took one look at my MOS (6242 – aviation electrician), his list, and sent me to Iwakuni, Japan.  All newbies in Iwakuni were TDY'd to quonsot huts and even stayed after being assigned a squadron.  I was waiting assignment (I was eventually assigned to H&MS-17. Your sister squadron in Iwakuni) and had rented a bicycle to get around this base with 7,000 other Marines.  The bike's number was A-53.  Amazing what we can remember over 41 years ago!  I locked my bike up and one night someone decided that he wanted it more than me.  It was gone in the morning.  I looked around (borrowed a buddy's bike) and couldn't find the bike,  Then I went to the rental place and told my story.  I was informed that I need to produce the bike by week's end or $100.00.  Damn!  That was a lot of money for a Lance Corporal that was sending all but $20.00 to his wife.  Two days later I was walking back to my hut from lunch at the chow hall.  They were serving watery chili that day and it decidied to go through me pretty quick.  I saw four bikes riding towards me and check them out as I was tryong to get to the shi&&%$ before by butt exploded.  One bike read A-53!  I looked back before entering my hut and saw the riders turning left towards the chow hall.  I was doing my duty and screaming for anyone to come.  Three Marines came into the opened stall bathroom and immediately grabbed their noses and started to turn around and go out.  I yelled for them and they heard my story.  "What do you want us to do"  One asked.  I wanted them to keep the other three Marines busy and off my back as I was discussing the return of my bike to it's rightful owner.  They asked one question. "Is he a brother?"  They were black Marines.  I said no and they said yes they would help.   We rode to the chow hall on their bikes.  I was on the handlebars of one.  As we got their the four mentioned Marines were just settling in to the bike stand.  My Marine was at the end closest to the big "L" shaped line and the chow hall.  I wnet over tp him and my bike.  re-checked the number, put my left hand on his suprised shoulder, and with my right hand proceeded to help him dismount from my bike.  I continued "discussing" the negative merits of having my bike and mentioned that "A Marine never steals from another Marine and definitelty doesn't get caught."  He failed the second part.  This asshole was screaming that it wasn't his bike as I was raining "love taps" on and around his head, shoulders, and stomach.  A few kicks were added for good measure), and he had borrowed it from a friend.  He wouldn't give up the friends name.  So I suggested we bother one of the MP's in line who I'm sure wouldn't mind missing their chow for a thief.  He demurred and I told him as I was walking away that he should have a chat with his friend for the asskicking he just received.  BTY.  The three Marines with me were true to their word.  No one bothered me the whole time.  Not even the MP's in line after they were told what was going on. read more

Need help finding a store

I am trying to find more information on the below story.  I will give you as many details as I can in hopes that someone can clarify for me.  I have tried to find the story online and I have been unsuccessful.  Here we go.

In 2002, I was told a story from an old Marine.  I being a Marine myself, was very interested in the story and eager to hear more.  The old Marine told me that he tells his story on Parris Island to recruits of what happened to him in Vietnam.  This is what I remember. read more

Vietnam chow and C-rats

Sgt. Grit,

I had to send you these pictures. Others have talked about cooking in their helmet but I thought you would like to see what we made. Here is L/cpl Jim Berry fixing what we called chili in his helmet. We would ask our folks to send us chili powder and tomato sauce. Then we would empty out all the meat products from a case of C rations mix heat and serve. We were on the go a lot and made the best of any situation. My dad sent me a care package every week, these consisted of cigarettes, a local newspaper, salami, pepperoni, cookies and a small jar of manhattans, a family drink. Jim was my best friend in Vietnam we shared everything. Sadly Jim was killed in a motor cycle accident a few years after getting home. read more